Salford owner makes audacious bid for Wigan superstar Sam Tomkins

New Salford owner Dr Marwan Koukash claims he has made a bid to sign star full-back Sam Tomkins from Wigan.

Koukash, the businessman and racehorse owner who saved Salford from bankruptcy last month, says he is prepared to pay a fee for Super League's Man of Steel.

Tomkins is under contract at the Warriors until 2016 and Wigan are highly unlikely to allow the 23-year-old to leave the DW Stadium and he is not allowed to speak to other clubs until next year.

Interested

But the bid is a clear statement of Koukash's ambition to transform the fortunes of the Reds after their recent struggles off the field.

Koukash told the Manchester Evening News: "I have contacted Wigan to tell them I am interested in signing Sam and would be prepared to pay a transfer fee for him.

"That's all I can say at this stage. We'll see what happens."

Koukash has been determined to make a marquee signing for Salford - who won their first game of the season on Sunday - and he has been linked with Castleford half-back Rangi Chase and Warrington's veteran prop Adrian Morley.